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Yemen Shiite rebels seize army position, kill dozen soldiers

26 July 2010 22:19 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. Yemeni Shiite rebel forces seized a government army position in the north on Monday following the overnight battles, in which a dozen of soldiers were killed and a number of others were detained, a spokesman of the rebel group told Xinhua, APA reports quoting Xinhua News Agency.

Dhaif al-Shami, spokesman of the Shiite rebels, told Xinhua by phone that "Houthi fighters (Shiite rebels) completely took over Zalaa military site which is the most strategic military position in Harf Sufian in the north of Amran province."

"Houthi forces also managed to kill perhaps a dozen of government troops and captured some other soldiers," Shami said.

The rebel spokesman also said that the reason behind the Houthis’ action to capture the government army site was that "the latter was providing military support to the week-long battle between the armed pro-government and Houthis."

"The situation now is nearly calm in the area," he added.